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Overview

The seventh edition of this comprehensive and authoritative guide provides more than 2,000 popular, publicly available health-information resources available in both print and electronic formats. Resources include those that the author judges to be the best materials published since the last edition of this book.

Editorial Reviews

Dolores Zegar Judkins

This book continues the tradition of listing current, reliable sources of health information for consumers and librarians in books, pamphlets, websites, and from organizations. It is a complete revision of the previous edition in 1998. The purpose is "to provide a comprehensive guide to the thousands of popular health information resources (both print and electronic) of value to the general public." With the increase in consumers wanting health information, this book fills the need for finding reliable sources of information. All medical and public librarians can use this resource for collection development and as a reader's advisory. It is an invaluable tool for health educators. Practitioners may want to have copies available in their offices as a resource for their patients. Virtually very aspect of healthcare is covered in this book, and the selected items are current and reliable. New to this edition are chapters on consumer health web sites, complementary and alternative medicine books, and Spanish language pamphlets, as well as an expanded chapter on finding consumer health information on the Internet. Unfortunately, a few subject sections, such as hospitals, were left out and do not seem to be included in any other section. This edition is more than 100 pages longer than the previous edition. A major shortcoming is the lack of URLs for associations and organizations, since many of them have consumer health information on the Internet. The same should have been done for the pamphlet section, since many of the pamphlets are available on the Internet. This book is a major accomplishment, and the fact that it is frequently updated makes it continually useful. It should bein all libraries that include health resources, and will be heavily used in consumer health libraries in particular.

Madelyn G.P. Hall

This edition has surpassed the previous edition, including upgraded standards such as timeliness, authorship, and attribution. The editor is a well-respected medical information specialist. The book, as in earlier editions, is designed to "provide a comprehensive guide to popular health information." It achieves this by organizing the subject by very specific chapters, including consumer health publications (magazines, newsletters, etc.), consumer health books, computer-based information (CD-ROMs, etc.), and Internet sites. Each chapter is referenced. The intended audience is librarians working in reference and collection development, health care educators, and other professionals such as booksellers. For librarians and others who are beginning a consumer health collection, this book is an especially invaluable tool. The first chapter, "Medical Consumerism in the Age of Managed Care," discusses today's healthcare climate as well as future trends. With some guidance, the general public can use this book too. The preface and the table of contents are sufficiently detailed to help the reader understand the format and depth of the material. Although the print is dense, there is good use of white space and bold text to delineate sections. There are three indexes with listings by author, title, and subject. Those acquainted with previous editions will welcome the chapter on Internet sites, which includes discussion of consumer health on the Internet, well-established web sites, and a glossary of terms. To lend further credibility, referenced journal articles substantiate the editor's views. The annotated bibliography comprises the bulk of the book. It even provides all theinformation needed for purchase of any of the publications noted. Certainly every medical librarian will want a copy on the ready reference shelf, as this book will be reached for again and again.

From The Critics

Reviewer: Dolores Zegar Judkins, MLS, AHIP (Oregon Health Sciences University)Description: This book continues the tradition of listing current, reliable sources of health information for consumers and librarians in books, pamphlets, websites, and from organizations. It is a complete revision of the previous edition in 1998. Purpose: The purpose is "to provide a comprehensive guide to the thousands of popular health information resources (both print and electronic) of value to the general public." With the increase in consumers wanting health information, this book fills the need for finding reliable sources of information. Audience: All medical and public librarians can use this resource for collection development and as a reader's advisory. It is an invaluable tool for health educators. Practitioners may want to have copies available in their offices as a resource for their patients. Features: Virtually very aspect of healthcare is covered in this book, and the selected items are current and reliable. New to this edition are chapters on consumer health web sites, complementary and alternative medicine books, and Spanish language pamphlets, as well as an expanded chapter on finding consumer health information on the Internet. Unfortunately, a few subject sections, such as hospitals, were left out and do not seem to be included in any other section. This edition is more than 100 pages longer than the previous edition. A major shortcoming is the lack of URLs for associations and organizations, since many of them have consumer health information on the Internet. The same should have been done for the pamphlet section, since many of the pamphlets are available on the Internet. Assessment: This book is a major accomplishment, and the fact that it is frequently updated makes it continually useful. It should be in all libraries that include health resources, and will be heavily used in consumer health libraries in particular.

Booknews

A guide to thousands of print and electronic health information resources for the general public, designed to be of use both in collection development and reference services. Contains some 3,000 descriptive evaluations of books, magazines, pamphlets in English and Spanish, information centers, hotlines, organizations, Web sites, and medical textbooks and journals. An introductory chapter describes an expanded concept of consumer health information within the context of trends in medical consumerism and the changing needs of consumers in the era of managed care. Content is new and does not duplicate previous editions. Rees is professor emeritus of library and information science at Case Western Reserve University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
5 Stars! from Doody

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Meet the Author

ALAN M. REES is professor emeritus of library and information science at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, and has taught at the University of Toronto, State University of New York at Albany, and Kent State University.

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